Ashcroft History
The settlement of Ashcroft developed rapidly following silver discoveries in 1880 and briefly became one of the most important mining camps in the upper Roaring Fork Valley. Within only a few years, however, disappointing mines, transportation difficulties, and the growing success of Aspen brought Ashcroft’s period of prosperity to an end.
Prospectors had begun exploring the upper Castle Creek country by 1879, entering a region that was still part of the traditional territory of the Ute people. In the spring of 1880, Charles B. Culver and W. F. Coxhead traveled from Leadville into the upper Castle Creek Valley in search of silver. After finding promising mineral deposits, Coxhead returned to Leadville to publicize the discovery. When he returned, another 23 prospectors had joined Culver.
By June, the group had established a permanent camp near the forks of Castle Creek, organized a Miners’ Protective Association, laid out streets, and constructed a courthouse. The settlement was initially known as Castle Forks, while the placer claim on which the town was laid out was called Chloride.
The settlement grew quickly, and by 1881, when a post office was established, the population had reached about 500. That year, a wagon road over Taylor Pass connected the Castle Creek Valley with the railroad at Crested Butte, while a telegraph line connected Aspen, Ashcroft, and Crested Butte. Stage routes also provided connections with Aspen, Independence, Leadville, and other mining centers. On January 3, 1882, the town was officially renamed Ashcroft, in honor of Thomas E. Ashcroft, one of the early prospectors.
Ashcroft’s prospects were closely tied to the mines developing in the surrounding mountains. Among the most important were the Montezuma and Tam O’Shanter properties. These mines attracted the attention of Horace A. W. Tabor, the wealthy Leadville mining investor, who acquired interests in the properties and invested in their development. Colorado’s state geologist considered the mines among the notable mining properties then being developed in Pitkin County.
The excitement surrounding these mines produced Ashcroft’s greatest period of growth in 1882 and 1883. The National Register of Historic Places nomination states that the population reached approximately 2,000 in 1883 and peaked at about 2,500. Other estimates are more conservative: History Colorado gives Ashcroft a peak population of approximately 1,000. Regardless of the exact figure, the town developed into a substantial mining community supporting numerous commercial enterprises. Daily mail and stage service connected it with neighboring settlements, while stores, hotels, saloons, boarding houses, and other businesses serving the mining industry lined its streets.
Ashcroft also occupied an important position on early transportation routes through the Elk Mountains. Before railroads reached Aspen, ore and supplies moved through the high country by pack animals, wagons, and stages. Taylor and Pearl passes provided connections across the mountains toward Crested Butte and the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad. Ashcroft was served by three stage lines, but Taylor Pass was an exceptionally difficult route, particularly during winter. These transportation difficulties increased the cost of developing Ashcroft’s mines and shipping their ores.
Despite the optimism of the early 1880s, the mining district failed to fulfill expectations. Many of the promising veins proved to be shallow surface deposits and were quickly depleted. Ashcroft also suffered from inadequate capital for mine development and the difficulties of transporting ore and supplies through the mountains. At the same time, increasingly important silver discoveries at Aspen drew miners, investors, and businesses away from the Castle Creek settlement.
By the end of 1883, Ashcroft was already in steep decline. Residents were moving to Aspen, sometimes taking buildings with them. The arrival of railroad transportation at Aspen further shifted the region’s economic center away from Ashcroft. Ore no longer needed to be carried across the high passes to reach the railroad, eliminating one of the advantages Ashcroft had possessed as a transportation point between the Roaring Fork Valley and Crested Butte. By 1890, most of Ashcroft’s businesses had closed.
Ashcroft nevertheless survived as a small settlement for several decades. Prospectors continued to work nearby properties, and repeated attempts were made to revive mining in the district. The post office remained open until November 30, 1912. The last permanent resident left in 1925, although a handful of old prospectors continued to spend time in the vicinity afterward. Fewer than a dozen of the original log and wood-frame buildings ultimately survived.
During the 1930s, the abandoned mining district acquired a new connection with Colorado’s developing ski industry. The Highland Bavarian Lodge was established near Ashcroft in 1936 as part of plans to develop the surrounding mountains for skiing. During World War II, the U.S. Army’s 10th Mountain Division also used the Ashcroft area for training exercises, including climbing and bridge-building practice.
Although the proposed ski development never transformed Ashcroft into a major resort, these activities marked the beginning of the Castle Creek Valley’s transition from a mining landscape to one increasingly valued for recreation and historic preservation.
Ashcroft was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 12, 1975. The remaining townsite lies within the White River National Forest and is now managed by the Aspen Historical Society under permit from the U.S. Forest Service.
A Tour of Colorado Mining Towns
Explore over 100 Colorado mining towns: A tour of Colorado Mining Towns.
Colorado Mining Photos
More of Colorado's best historic mining photos: Incredible Photos of Colorado Mining Scenes.